THE contract for the building of Bury's new £12 million has just been awarded.

Little Hulton firm G & J Seddon has secured the contract with De Vere Group Plc for the construction of the Village Leisure Hotel at Heap Bridge which will begin this month.

The development, scheduled to be completed by July of next year, will create around 350 full and part-time jobs.

When finished, the hotel will feature 98 en-suite bedrooms, restaurant and conference facilities.

And a state-of-the-art leisure club will boast a 25 metre heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, fitness studio, squash courts, two aerobics studios, whirlpool, spa, toning tables and a creche.

De Vere Group owns the Village Leisure Hotel in Prestwich. The Bury development, at Waterfold Park Estate at junction two of the M66, will be the company's 13th hotel.